Difference between stainless steel 321 and 304

Release Time:

31 Mar,2024

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321 Stainless Steel: Contains up to 0.08% carbon, 17-19% chromium, 9-12% nickel, and titanium ranging from 5*(C%-0.02) to 0.8%

Difference between stainless steel 321 and 304

Chemical Composition
321 Stainless Steel: Contains up to 0.08% carbon, 17-19% chromium, 9-12% nickel, and titanium ranging from 5*(C%-0.02) to 0.8%.
304 Stainless Steel: Contains up to 0.08% carbon, 18-20% chromium, 8-10.5% nickel, and no titanium.

Mechanical Properties
Both types share similar mechanical properties:
Tensile strength: ≥520 MN/m²
Yield strength: ≥205 MN/m²
Elongation: ≥40%
Shrinkage: ≥55%

Special Characteristics

Heat Resistance:
321 stainless steel withstands temperatures up to 900°C.
304 stainless steel withstands temperatures up to 800°C.

Corrosion Resistance:
321 stainless steel has good corrosion resistance, slightly lower than 304 due to titanium.
304 stainless steel has excellent corrosion resistance.

Weldability:
321 stainless steel welds well but requires post-weld heat treatment to prevent cracking.
304 stainless steel welds excellently without additional treatment.

Applications
321 Stainless Steel: Used in high-temperature environments like aerospace and automotive industries.
304 Stainless Steel: Used in general-purpose applications, including the chemical and food industries.